Election results

Background

An earlier attempt to guarantee the right to fish, hunt, and trap was proposed in almost identical wording in 1997 Senate Joint Resolution 36, which did not pass on first consideration. A related amendment to guarantee the right to bear arms, which received second consideration in that same session, was ratified in November 1998 by an almost 3-to-1 margin. The vote created Article I, Section 25, which reads: “The people have the right to keep and bear arms for security, defense, hunting, recreation or any other lawful purpose.” The proposed new amendment would expand the protection of hunting from a “lawful purpose”, dependent upon legislative action, to a guaranteed right that could only be limited by reasonable restrictions. Trapping and fishing would be added to the guaranteed rights.

Text of measure

The following ballot text is the official language of the measure as it appeared on the ballot:

Right to fish, hunt, trap, and take game. Shall section 26 of article I of the constitution be created to provide that the people have the right to fish, hunt, trap, and take game subject only to reasonable restrictions as prescribe by law?[3]

Constitutional changes

[Article I] Section 26. The people have the right to fish, hunt, trap, and take game subject only to reasonable restrictions as prescribed by law.[4]